Rather than one or the other method, consider concentrate supplementation along with grazing...

Hi

Of course, goat can be fed in stall. Preferably the use of browsing than only grazing. Stall needs a cut and carry system.

Most of the world goats do not eat concentrates, and performed well according the production system. The use of concentrate is a matter of trade off with production cost and profits.

Regards,

Redimio

@Manoj Sharma goats can be kept under stall fed condition if the farmer wants appreciable increase in growth, healthier meat etc. Browse leaves can be incorporated into their feed on cut and carry basis.

Yes goats can be kept in feedlot and fed with concentrates and some roughage feeds or partial grazing plus concentrate feeding in feedlot as in so many African countries such as Sudan and Nigeria .

Mr Sharma,

To answer your question, yes goats can be raised under stall-fed conditions. Goats are easier to manage under stall-feeding than the large ruminants. In Bhutan, free-ranging of goats are prohibited as goats are browsers and they are detrimental to environment. Farmers raising goats in Bhutan should practice raising goats under stall-feeding conditions only. India is not different, so it is definitely possible.

Yes, it is absolutely possible to rear the goat in stall fed condition. Recently we see farmers are adopting this system due to decrease in grazing land. However, production costs has to be kept in mind

Dear Manoj Sharma,

Your observations are correct and this feeding management system prevail in mostly the semi arid zones of Indian sub-continent. This area is large and supports a large population of goats. However, it is a fact that depending solely on this system may not fulfill the nutrient demand of goats' body.

Switching completely to stall fed conditions may be costly affair, especially for small and marginal farmers.

However, if one can manage to provide supplemental ration along with grazing, nutrient demands may be met satisfactorily for goats.

I did stalling feeding on the young Arsi-Bale Goat to determine their nutrient requirement . But their body weight gain is below maintenance level/negative gain then trial was discontinued. Based my observation, I do not suggest the stall feeding for tropical goat particularly using dry maize residues.

Yes... they can be kept on stall

The stall feeding as an alternative to traditional grazing and semi-intensive system, may be useful to maintain pace with growing meat demand in the changing scenario of grazing resources in goat farming. In my country (Nigeria), goat and sheep on stall feeding with adequate nutrition and good management attain faster growth, attain slaughter weights at an early age and produce heavier carcass weights, more dressing yield and desirable lean, fat and bone contents. Although initially intensive system seems costly due to more capital investment, but this is justified by higher economic returns to farmers.

Goats feed on variety of roughages. They are very choosy and selective feeder. To get maximum growth, I suggest grazing in the open pasture along with supplementation of little concentrate.

Hi, I agree with you. Thank you